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Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, sarga 9: Mantharā’s plan for the boons
Summary. She recalls Kaikeyī’s rescue of Daśaratha and urges Bharata’s abhiṣeka and fourteen years of exile for Rāma
Sequence
- Kaikeyī now resolves to make Bharata King and send Rāma away; she asks Mantharā how to accomplish it (2.9.1–8)
- Mantharā recalls an earlier war in which Kaikeyī accompanied Daśaratha, carried him out of danger when he was wounded and unconscious, and protected him → in gratitude, he granted her two boons, which she kept for later (2.9.9–15)
- Mantharā tells her to enter the anger chamber, remove her finery, lie on the floor, and refuse to respond affectionately to the King (2.9.16–19)
- she must reject offers of wealth and first bind him to his promise → then she must demand Bharata's abhiṣeka and fourteen years of exile for Rāma (2.9.20–23)
- Mantharā explains why the exile matters: it will give Bharata time to establish his rule and win the people's loyalty before Rāma returns (2.9.24–26)
- Kaikeyī praises Mantharā's cleverness and promises her lavish rewards (2.9.27–39)
- urged to act before it is too late, she removes her ornaments, lies on the bare floor, and declares that she will either obtain the two demands or die. (2.9.40–47)
Verses 2.9.1–47
2.9.1
evam uktā tu kaikeyī krodhena jvalitānanā
dīrgham uṣṇaṃ viniḥśvasya mantharām idam abravīt
Addressed thus, Kaikeyī, her face aflame with anger, drew a long, hot sigh and spoke this to Mantharā:
Words: evam uktā tu — but addressed thus; kaikeyī — Kaikeyī; krodhena — with anger; jvalitānanā — her face aflame; dīrgham — long; uṣṇaṃ — hot; viniḥśvasya — having sighed; mantharām — to Mantharā; idam abravīt — spoke this
2.9.2
adya rāmam itaḥ kṣipraṃ vanaṃ prasthāpayāmy aham
yauvarājyena bharataṃ kṣipram evābhiṣecaye
“Today I shall swiftly send Rāma away from here to the forest, and consecrate Bharata to the heir-apparency at once.
Words: adya — today; rāmam — Rāma; itaḥ — from here; kṣipraṃ — quickly; vanaṃ — to the forest; prasthāpayāmy aham — I shall send forth; yauvarājyena — with the heir-apparency; bharataṃ — Bharata; kṣipram evābhiṣecaye — I shall consecrate at once
2.9.3
idaṃ tv idānīṃ saṃpaśya kenopāyena manthare
bharataḥ prāpnuyād rājyaṃ na tu rāmaḥ kathaṃ cana
But consider this now, O Mantharā: by what means might Bharata gain the kingdom, and Rāma by no means at all?”
Words: idaṃ tv idānīṃ — but this now; saṃpaśya — consider, look well; kenopāyena — by what means; manthare — O Mantharā; bharataḥ — Bharata; prāpnuyād — might obtain; rājyaṃ — the kingdom; na tu rāmaḥ — but not Rāma; kathaṃ cana — in any way at all
2.9.4
evam uktā tayā devyā mantharā pāpadarśinī
rāmārtham upahiṃsantī kaikeyīm idam abravīt
Thus addressed by the queen, Mantharā of evil vision, working to injure Rāma's cause, spoke this to Kaikeyī:
Words: evam uktā — thus addressed; tayā devyā — by that queen; mantharā — Mantharā; pāpadarśinī — of evil vision, seeing wickedly; rāmārtham — against Rāma's interest; upahiṃsantī — working harm, injuring; kaikeyīm — to Kaikeyī; idam abravīt — spoke this
2.9.5
hantedānīṃ pravakṣyāmi kaikeyi śrūyatāṃ ca me
yathā te bharato rājyaṃ putraḥ prāpsyati kevalam
“Come now, O Kaikeyī, I shall speak; hear me — how your son Bharata will gain the kingdom for himself alone.
Words: hantedānīṃ — come now; pravakṣyāmi — I shall tell; kaikeyi — O Kaikeyī; śrūyatāṃ ca me — and let it be heard from me; yathā — how; te — your; bharato — Bharata; rājyaṃ — the kingdom; putraḥ — the son; prāpsyati — will obtain; kevalam — alone, entirely
2.9.6
śrutvaivaṃ vacanaṃ tasyā mantharāyās tu kaikayī
kiṃ cid utthāya śayanāt svāstīrṇād idam abravīt
Hearing these words of Mantharā, Kaikeyī, rising up a little from her well-spread couch, spoke this:
Words: śrutvaivaṃ — having thus heard; vacanaṃ — the words; tasyā — of her; mantharāyās tu — of Mantharā; kaikayī — Kaikeyī; kiṃ cid — a little; utthāya — rising up; śayanāt — from the couch; svāstīrṇād — well-spread; idam abravīt — spoke this
2.9.7
kathaya tvaṃ mamopāyaṃ kenopāyena manthare
bharataḥ prāpnuyād rājyaṃ na tu rāmaḥ kathaṃ cana
“Tell me the means, O Mantharā — by what means Bharata might gain the kingdom, and Rāma by no means at all.”
Words: kathaya — tell; tvaṃ — you; mamopāyaṃ — me the means; kenopāyena — by what means; manthare — O Mantharā; bharataḥ — Bharata; prāpnuyād — might obtain; rājyaṃ — the kingdom; na tu rāmaḥ — but not Rāma; kathaṃ cana — in any way at all
2.9.8
evam uktā tayā devyā mantharā pāpadarśinī
rāmārtham upahiṃsantī kubjā vacanam abravīt
Thus addressed by the queen, Mantharā of evil vision, working to injure Rāma, the hunchback spoke these words:
Words: evam uktā — thus addressed; tayā devyā — by that queen; mantharā — Mantharā; pāpadarśinī — of evil vision; rāmārtham — against Rāma's interest; upahiṃsantī — working harm, injuring; kubjā — the hunchback; vacanam abravīt — spoke these words
2.9.9
tava devāsure yuddhe saha rājarṣibhiḥ patiḥ
agacchat tvām upādāya devarājasya sāhyakṛt
In the war of gods and asuras, your husband, taking you with him, went as an ally of the king of the gods, together with royal seers.
Words: tava — your; devāsure — of gods and asuras; yuddhe — in the war; saha rājarṣibhiḥ — together with royal seers; patiḥ — husband; agacchat — went; tvām upādāya — taking you along; devarājasya — of the king of the gods (Indra); sāhyakṛt — as a helper, ally
2.9.10
diśam āsthāya kaikeyi dakṣiṇāṃ daṇḍakān prati
vaijayantam iti khyātaṃ puraṃ yatra timidhvajaḥ
Betaking himself, O Kaikeyī, to the southern quarter, toward the Daṇḍaka regions, to the city known as Vaijayanta, where Timidhvaja dwelt —
Words: diśam — the quarter, direction; āsthāya — betaking himself to; kaikeyi — O Kaikeyī; dakṣiṇāṃ — southern; daṇḍakān prati — toward the Daṇḍaka regions; vaijayantam — Vaijayanta; iti khyātaṃ — known as; puraṃ — the city; yatra — where; timidhvajaḥ — Timidhvaja (dwelt)
2.9.11
sa śambara iti khyātaḥ śatamāyo mahāsuraḥ
dadau śakrasya saṃgrāmaṃ devasaṃghair anirjitaḥ
That great asura, known as Śambara, master of a hundred wiles, unvanquished by the hosts of gods, gave battle to Śakra.
Words: sa — he; śambara — Śambara; iti khyātaḥ — known as; śatamāyo — of a hundred wiles; mahāsuraḥ — the great asura; dadau — gave; śakrasya — to Śakra (Indra); saṃgrāmaṃ — battle; devasaṃghair — by the hosts of gods; anirjitaḥ — unconquered
2.9.12
tasmin mahati saṃgrāme rājā daśarathas tadā
apavāhya tvayā devi saṃgrāmān naṣṭacetanaḥ
In that great battle, O queen, King Daśaratha, his consciousness lost, was then carried by you away from the fight;
Words: tasmin — in that; mahati — great; saṃgrāme — battle; rājā — King; daśarathas — Daśaratha; tadā — then; apavāhya — having been carried away; tvayā — by you; devi — O queen; saṃgrāmān — from the battle; naṣṭacetanaḥ — his consciousness lost
2.9.13
tatrāpi vikṣataḥ śastraiḥ patis te rakṣitas tvayā
tuṣṭena tena dattau te dvau varau śubhadarśane
There too your husband, wounded by weapons, was protected by you; and he, well pleased, granted you two boons, O lovely one.
Words: tatrāpi — there too; vikṣataḥ — wounded; śastraiḥ — by weapons; patis te — your husband; rakṣitas tvayā — was protected by you; tuṣṭena tena — by him, pleased; dattau — two were granted; te — to you; dvau varau — two boons; śubhadarśane — O fair of aspect
2.9.14
sa tvayoktaḥ patir devi yadeccheyaṃ tadā varau
gṛhṇīyām iti tat tena tathety uktaṃ mahātmanā
anabhijñā hy ahaṃ devi tvayaiva kathitaṃ purā
That husband of yours was told by you, ‘When I wish it, I shall then take the two boons’; and to that the great-souled one said, ‘So be it.’ I myself was unaware of this, O queen — you told me of it long ago.
Words: sa — he; tvayoktaḥ — was told by you; patir — husband; devi — O queen; yadeccheyaṃ — when I should wish; tadā — then; varau — the two boons; gṛhṇīyām — I would take; iti tat — thus that; tena — by him; tathety uktaṃ — was answered 'so be it'; mahātmanā — by the great-souled one; anabhijñā — unaware; hy ahaṃ — for I; devi — O queen; tvayaiva — by you yourself; kathitaṃ purā — was told long ago
2.9.15
tau varau yāca bhartāraṃ bharatasyābhiṣecanam
pravrājanaṃ ca rāmasya tvaṃ varṣāṇi caturdaśa
Ask your husband for those two boons: the consecration of Bharata, and the banishment of Rāma for fourteen years.
Words: tau varau — those two boons; yāca — ask for; bhartāraṃ — your husband; bharatasyābhiṣecanam — the consecration of Bharata; pravrājanaṃ ca — and the banishment; rāmasya — of Rāma; tvaṃ — you; varṣāṇi caturdaśa — for fourteen years
2.9.16
krodhāgāraṃ praviśyādya kruddhevāśvapateḥ sute
śeṣvānantarhitāyāṃ tvaṃ bhūmau malinavāsinī
mā smainaṃ pratyudīkṣethā mā cainam abhibhāṣathāḥ
Enter the anger-chamber today, O daughter of Aśvapati, as though enraged; lie upon the bare ground in soiled garments, and neither look up at him nor speak to him.
Words: krodhāgāraṃ — the anger-chamber; praviśyādya — having entered today; kruddhevāśvapateḥ — as if enraged, O (daughter) of Aśvapati; sute — O daughter; śeṣvānantarhitāyāṃ — lie down on the uncovered (ground); tvaṃ — you; bhūmau — on the ground; malinavāsinī — clad in soiled garments; mā smainaṃ — do not (look) at him; pratyudīkṣethā — look up at, regard; mā cainam — and (do) not him; abhibhāṣathāḥ — speak to
2.9.17
dayitā tvaṃ sadā bhartur atra me nāsti saṃśayaḥ
tvatkṛte ca mahārājo viśed api hutāśanam
You are ever beloved of your husband — of this I have no doubt; for your sake the great king would even enter the fire.
Words: dayitā — beloved; tvaṃ — you; sadā — always; bhartur — of your husband; atra — in this; me nāsti saṃśayaḥ — I have no doubt; tvatkṛte ca — and for your sake; mahārājo — the great king; viśed api — would even enter; hutāśanam — the fire
2.9.18
na tvāṃ krodhayituṃ śakto na kruddhāṃ pratyudīkṣitum
tava priyārthaṃ rājā hi prāṇān api parityajet
He cannot bear to anger you, nor to meet your gaze when you are angry; for your pleasure the king would even lay down his life.
Words: na tvāṃ — not you; krodhayituṃ — to anger; śakto — able; na kruddhāṃ — nor when (you are) angry; pratyudīkṣitum — to look in the face; tava priyārthaṃ — for your pleasure; rājā hi — for the king; prāṇān api — even his life-breaths; parityajet — would give up
2.9.19
na hy atikramituṃ śaktas tava vākyaṃ mahīpatiḥ
mandasvabhāve budhyasva saubhāgyabalam ātmanaḥ
For the lord of the earth cannot cross your word; O simple-natured one, recognize the power of your own good fortune.
Words: na hy — for not; atikramituṃ — to transgress, overstep; śaktas — able; tava vākyaṃ — your word; mahīpatiḥ — the lord of the earth; mandasvabhāve — O simple-natured one; budhyasva — understand, recognize; saubhāgyabalam — the power of good fortune; ātmanaḥ — of yourself
2.9.20
maṇimuktāsuvarṇāni ratnāni vividhāni ca
dadyād daśaratho rājā mā sma teṣu manaḥ kṛthāḥ
King Daśaratha may offer gems, pearls, gold, and jewels of every kind — do not set your heart on them.
Words: maṇimuktāsuvarṇāni — gems, pearls, and gold; ratnāni — jewels; vividhāni ca — and of various kinds; dadyād — may give; daśaratho rājā — King Daśaratha; mā sma — do not; teṣu — on them; manaḥ kṛthāḥ — set your mind
2.9.21
yau tau devāsure yuddhe varau daśaratho 'dadāt
tau smāraya mahābhāge so 'rtho mā tvām atikramet
Those two boons that Daśaratha granted in the war of gods and asuras — remind him of them, O fortunate one; let that purpose not slip past you.
Words: yau tau — those two which; devāsure — of gods and asuras; yuddhe — in the war; varau — the two boons; daśaratho 'dadāt — Daśaratha granted; tau smāraya — remind (him) of those two; mahābhāge — O fortunate one; so 'rtho — that purpose; mā tvām atikramet — let it not escape you
2.9.22
yadā tu te varaṃ dadyāt svayam utthāpya rāghavaḥ
vyavasthāpya mahārājaṃ tvam imaṃ vṛṇuyā varam
And when Rāghava (Daśaratha), raising you up himself, offers you a boon, then, having bound the great king to his word, you should choose this boon:
Words: yadā tu — and when; te — to you; varaṃ dadyāt — should offer a boon; svayam utthāpya — himself having raised (you) up; rāghavaḥ — Rāghava (Daśaratha); vyavasthāpya — having bound, pledged; mahārājaṃ — the great king; tvam — you; imaṃ vṛṇuyā varam — should choose this boon
2.9.23
rāmaṃ pravrājayāraṇye nava varṣāṇi pañca ca
bharataḥ kriyatāṃ rājā pṛthivyāṃ pārthivarṣabhaḥ
‘Banish Rāma to the forest for fourteen years, and let Bharata, a bull among kings, be made ruler of the earth.’
Words: rāmaṃ — Rāma; pravrājayāraṇye — banish to the forest; nava varṣāṇi — nine years; pañca ca — and five; bharataḥ — Bharata; kriyatāṃ rājā — let (him) be made king; pṛthivyāṃ — on the earth; pārthivarṣabhaḥ — the bull among kings
2.9.24
evaṃ pravrājitaś caiva rāmo 'rāmo bhaviṣyati
bharataś ca hatāmitras tava rājā bhaviṣyati
Thus banished, Rāma will be Rāma no longer; and Bharata, his rivals destroyed, will become your king.
Words: evaṃ — thus; pravrājitaś caiva — and banished; rāmo 'rāmo — Rāma (will be) no Rāma; bhaviṣyati — will become; bharataś ca — and Bharata; hatāmitras — his enemies destroyed; tava rājā — your king; bhaviṣyati — will become
2.9.25
yena kālena rāmaś ca vanāt pratyāgamiṣyati
tena kālena putras te kṛtamūlo bhaviṣyati
saṃgṛhītamanuṣyaś ca suhṛdbhiḥ sārdham ātmavān
By the time Rāma returns from the forest, your son will have struck root, having won the people to himself, and, self-possessed, secure among his friends.
Words: yena kālena — by which time; rāmaś ca — and Rāma; vanāt — from the forest; pratyāgamiṣyati — will return; tena kālena — by that time; putras te — your son; kṛtamūlo — firmly rooted; bhaviṣyati — will be; saṃgṛhītamanuṣyaś ca — and having won over the people; suhṛdbhiḥ sārdham — together with his friends; ātmavān — self-possessed, firm
2.9.26
prāptakālaṃ tu te manye rājānaṃ vītasādhvasā
rāmābhiṣekasaṃkalpān nigṛhya vinivartaya
I think the moment has come for you; free of all fear, hold the king back and turn him away from his resolve to consecrate Rāma.
Words: prāptakālaṃ — the time is at hand; tu te manye — I think, for you; rājānaṃ — the king; vītasādhvasā — free of fear; rāmābhiṣekasaṃkalpān — from the resolve to consecrate Rāma; nigṛhya — having restrained; vinivartaya — turn (him) back
2.9.27
anartham artharūpeṇa grāhitā sā tatas tayā
hṛṣṭā pratītā kaikeyī mantharām idam abravīt
Thus led by her to embrace ruin in the guise of good, Kaikeyī, delighted and reassured, spoke this to Mantharā:
Words: anartham — calamity, ruin; artharūpeṇa — in the form of a benefit; grāhitā — made to grasp, persuaded; sā tatas tayā — she then by her; hṛṣṭā — delighted; pratītā — reassured, confident; kaikeyī — Kaikeyī; mantharām idam abravīt — spoke this to Mantharā
2.9.28
kubje tvāṃ nābhijānāmi śreṣṭhāṃ śreṣṭhābhidhāyinīm
pṛthivyām asi kubjānām uttamā buddhiniścaye
“O hunchback, I did not know you for the excellent one you are, who speaks the best of counsel; on earth you are the foremost of hunchbacks in firmness of judgment.
Words: kubje — O hunchback; tvāṃ — you; nābhijānāmi — I did not recognize; śreṣṭhāṃ — the excellent one; śreṣṭhābhidhāyinīm — who speaks the best (counsel); pṛthivyām — on earth; asi — you are; kubjānām — of hunchbacks; uttamā — the foremost; buddhiniścaye — in firmness of judgment
2.9.29
tvam eva tu mamārtheṣu nityayuktā hitaiṣiṇī
nāhaṃ samavabudhyeyaṃ kubje rājñaś cikīrṣitam
You alone, in my affairs, are ever devoted and wish me well; without you, O hunchback, I would never have grasped the king's design.
Words: tvam eva tu — you alone; mamārtheṣu — in my affairs; nityayuktā — ever engaged; hitaiṣiṇī — wishing (my) good; nāhaṃ — not I; samavabudhyeyaṃ — would have understood; kubje — O hunchback; rājñaś cikīrṣitam — the king's intention
2.9.30
santi duḥsaṃsthitāḥ kubjā vakrāḥ paramapāpikāḥ
tvaṃ padmam iva vātena saṃnatā priyadarśanā
There are other hunchbacks, misshapen, crooked, and utterly wicked; but you are bent like a lotus swayed by the wind, lovely to behold.
Words: santi — there are; duḥsaṃsthitāḥ — ill-formed, misshapen; kubjā — hunchbacks; vakrāḥ — crooked; paramapāpikāḥ — utterly wicked; tvaṃ — you; padmam iva — like a lotus; vātena — by the wind; saṃnatā — bent, bowed; priyadarśanā — lovely to look upon
2.9.31
uras te 'bhiniviṣṭaṃ vai yāvat skandhāt samunnatam
adhastāc codaraṃ śāntaṃ sunābham iva lajjitam
Your bosom rises drawn in, as high as the shoulders, and below, your slender waist seems modest, graced with a lovely navel.
Words: uras te 'bhiniviṣṭaṃ — your bosom is drawn in; vai — indeed; yāvat skandhāt — as far as the shoulder; samunnatam — raised up; adhastāc codaraṃ — and below, the belly; śāntaṃ — calm, recessed, slender; sunābham iva — as if with a lovely navel; lajjitam — bashful, modest
2.9.32
jaghanaṃ tava nirghuṣṭaṃ raśanādāmaśobhitam
jaṅghe bhṛśam upanyaste pādau cāpy āyatāv ubhau
Your hips, sounding with a girdle-cord and graced by it, your two shanks firmly set, and both your feet long and shapely —
Words: jaghanaṃ tava — your hips; nirghuṣṭaṃ — jingling, resounding; raśanādāmaśobhitam — adorned with a girdle-cord; jaṅghe — the two shanks; bhṛśam upanyaste — firmly set; pādau cāpy — and both feet; āyatāv ubhau — both long, extended
2.9.33
tvam āyatābhyāṃ sakthibhyāṃ manthare kṣaumavāsini
agrato mama gacchantī rājahaṃsīva rājase
With your long thighs, O Mantharā clad in linen, walking before me you shine like a royal swan.
Words: tvam — you; āyatābhyāṃ sakthibhyāṃ — with your long thighs; manthare — O Mantharā; kṣaumavāsini — O you clad in linen; agrato mama — before me; gacchantī — walking; rājahaṃsīva — like a royal swan; rājase — you shine
2.9.34
tavedaṃ sthagu yad dīrghaṃ rathaghoṇam ivāyatam
matayaḥ kṣatravidyāś ca māyāś cātra vasanti te
This long hump of yours, jutting out like the front-beam of a chariot — in it dwell your counsels, your statecraft, and your stratagems.
Words: tavedaṃ sthagu — this hump of yours; yad dīrghaṃ — which is long; rathaghoṇam — the front-beam of a chariot; ivāyatam — as if extended; matayaḥ — counsels, thoughts; kṣatravidyāś ca — and the science of statecraft; māyāś cātra — and wiles here; vasanti te — your dwell
2.9.35
atra te pratimokṣyāmi mālāṃ kubje hiraṇmayīm
abhiṣikte ca bharate rāghave ca vanaṃ gate
Upon this hump, O hunchback, I shall hang a golden garland, once Bharata is consecrated and Rāghava has gone to the forest.
Words: atra — here, upon it; te — on you; pratimokṣyāmi — I shall hang, fasten; mālāṃ — a garland; kubje — O hunchback; hiraṇmayīm — golden; abhiṣikte ca bharate — and when Bharata is consecrated; rāghave ca vanaṃ gate — and when Rāghava has gone to the forest
2.9.36
jātyena ca suvarṇena suniṣṭaptena sundari
labdhārthā ca pratītā ca lepayiṣyāmi te sthagu
And with pure, well-refined gold, O lovely one, my aim achieved and well pleased, I shall gild your hump.
Words: jātyena ca — and with fine (pure); suvarṇena — with gold; suniṣṭaptena — well-refined; sundari — O beautiful one; labdhārthā ca — my aim achieved; pratītā ca — and well pleased; lepayiṣyāmi — I shall coat, gild; te sthagu — your hump
2.9.37
mukhe ca tilakaṃ citraṃ jātarūpamayaṃ śubham
kārayiṣyāmi te kubje śubhāny ābharaṇāni ca
And on your face I shall have set a bright, ornate mark of gold, O hunchback, and fair ornaments for you as well.
Words: mukhe ca — and on the face; tilakaṃ citraṃ — a bright, ornate mark; jātarūpamayaṃ — made of gold; śubham — auspicious, fair; kārayiṣyāmi — I shall have made; te kubje — for you, O hunchback; śubhāny ābharaṇāni ca — and fair ornaments
2.9.38
paridhāya śubhe vastre devadeva cariṣyasi
candram āhvayamānena mukhenāpratimānanā
gamiṣyasi gatiṃ mukhyāṃ garvayantī dviṣajjanam
Clad in fair garments, you shall move about like a very goddess; with a face that challenges the moon, of matchless countenance, you shall walk with a queenly gait, filling your foes with chagrin.
Words: paridhāya — having put on; śubhe vastre — fair garments (dual); devadeva — like a goddess (godlike); cariṣyasi — you will walk about; candram — the moon; āhvayamānena — challenging, rivaling; mukhenāpratimānanā — with your face, of matchless countenance; gamiṣyasi — you will attain, go with; gatiṃ mukhyāṃ — a foremost gait, station; garvayantī — filling with envy, putting to shame; dviṣajjanam — the hostile folk
2.9.39
tavāpi kubjāḥ kubjāyāḥ sarvābharaṇabhūṣitāḥ
pādau paricariṣyanti yathaiva tvaṃ sadā mama
Other hunchbacks, decked in every ornament, will wait upon your feet, O hunchback, just as you always attend upon mine.
Words: tavāpi — of you too; kubjāḥ — (other) hunchbacks; kubjāyāḥ — of you, a hunchback; sarvābharaṇabhūṣitāḥ — adorned with all ornaments; pādau — the feet; paricariṣyanti — will wait upon, attend; yathaiva — just as; tvaṃ sadā mama — you always (attend) mine
2.9.40
iti praśasyamānā sā kaikeyīm idam abravīt
śayānāṃ śayane śubhre vedyām agniśikhām iva
Praised thus, she spoke this to Kaikeyī, who lay upon the bright couch like a tongue of flame upon an altar:
Words: iti praśasyamānā — being thus praised; sā — she; kaikeyīm idam abravīt — spoke this to Kaikeyī; śayānāṃ — reclining; śayane śubhre — on the bright couch; vedyām — on the altar; agniśikhām iva — like a tongue of flame
2.9.41
gatodake setubandho na kalyāṇi vidhīyate
uttiṣṭha kuru kalyāṇaṃ rājānam anudarśaya
One does not build a dam once the water has run off, O blessed lady; arise, secure your good, and present yourself before the king.
Words: gatodake — when the water is gone; setubandho — the building of a dam; na — not; kalyāṇi — O blessed lady; vidhīyate — is made, done; uttiṣṭha — arise; kuru kalyāṇaṃ — secure your good; rājānam anudarśaya — present yourself to the king
2.9.42
tathā protsāhitā devī gatvā mantharayā saha
krodhāgāraṃ viśālākṣī saubhāgyamadagarvitā
Thus urged on, the large-eyed queen, proud with the intoxication of her good fortune, went with Mantharā to the anger-chamber,
Words: tathā protsāhitā — thus urged on; devī — the queen; gatvā mantharayā saha — going together with Mantharā; krodhāgāraṃ — to the anger-chamber; viśālākṣī — the large-eyed one; saubhāgyamadagarvitā — proud with the pride of good fortune
2.9.43
anekaśatasāhasraṃ muktāhāraṃ varāṅganā
avamucya varārhāṇi śubhāny ābharaṇāni ca
and the fair-limbed woman cast off a pearl necklace worth many hundreds of thousands, and other precious, beautiful ornaments;
Words: anekaśatasāhasraṃ — worth many hundreds of thousands; muktāhāraṃ — a pearl necklace; varāṅganā — the fair-limbed woman; avamucya — casting off; varārhāṇi — precious, worthy of the best; śubhāny ābharaṇāni ca — and fair ornaments
2.9.44
tato hemopamā tatra kubjā vākyaṃ vaśaṃ gatā
saṃviśya bhūmau kaikeyī mantharām idam abravīt
Then Kaikeyī, golden-hued, having fallen under the sway of the hunchback's words, lay down upon the ground and spoke this to Mantharā:
Words: tato — then; hemopamā — golden-hued (like gold); tatra — there; kubjā — of the hunchback; vākyaṃ — the words; vaśaṃ gatā — come under the sway of; saṃviśya bhūmau — lying down on the ground; kaikeyī — Kaikeyī; mantharām idam abravīt — spoke this to Mantharā
2.9.45
iha vā māṃ mṛtāṃ kubje nṛpāyāvedayiṣyasi
vanaṃ tu rāghave prāpte bharataḥ prāpsyati kṣitim
“Either you shall report me here as dead, O hunchback, or else, once Rāghava has reached the forest, Bharata shall gain the earth.”
Words: iha vā — either here; māṃ mṛtāṃ — me (as) dead; kubje — O hunchback; nṛpāyāvedayiṣyasi — you shall report to the king; vanaṃ tu rāghave prāpte — but once Rāghava has reached the forest; bharataḥ prāpsyati kṣitim — Bharata shall gain the earth
2.9.46
athaitad uktvā vacanaṃ sudāruṇaṃ nidhāya sarvābharaṇāni bhāminī
asaṃvṛtām āstaraṇena medinīṃ tadādhiśiśye patiteva kinnarī
Then, having spoken these most cruel words and laid aside all her ornaments, the passionate woman lay down upon the bare, uncarpeted ground like a fallen kinnarī.
Words: athaitad uktvā — then having spoken this; vacanaṃ sudāruṇaṃ — most cruel word; nidhāya — laying aside; sarvābharaṇāni — all the ornaments; bhāminī — the passionate woman; asaṃvṛtām — uncovered, unspread; āstaraṇena — with a covering, carpet; medinīṃ — the ground, earth; tadādhiśiśye — then lay down upon (it); patiteva kinnarī — like a fallen kinnarī
2.9.47
udīrṇasaṃrambhatamovṛtānanā tathāvamuktottamamālyabhūṣaṇā
narendrapatnī vimanā babhūva sā tamovṛtā dyaur iva magnatārakā
Her face shrouded in the darkness of surging fury, her costly garlands and ornaments cast aside, the king's wife became dejected, like the sky veiled in gloom with its stars sunk from sight.
Words: udīrṇasaṃrambhatamovṛtānanā — her face veiled in the darkness of surging fury; tathāvamuktottamamālyabhūṣaṇā — her fine garlands and ornaments cast off; narendrapatnī — the king's wife; vimanā — dejected, downcast; babhūva sā — she became; tamovṛtā — veiled in darkness; dyaur iva — like the sky; magnatārakā — its stars sunk from sight
← 2.8 Mantharā turns Kaikeyī’s mind · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa · 2.10 Kaikeyī claims the two boons →
Composed by Maharṣi Vālmīki. Sanskrit: The Vālmīki-Rāmāyaṇa: Critical Edition, Oriental Institute, Baroda, 1960–1975 (gen. eds. G. H. Bhatt, U. P. Shah); IAST from GRETIL (Göttingen). Translation and word glosses: Claude Opus 4.6–4.7; summaries and sequences: ChatGPT Astra (machine-made). Numbering follows the Critical Edition, not the vulgate (e.g. Gita Press, valmikiramayan.net), so sarga and verse numbers can differ from those editions.
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